HALIFAX - A Canadian navy frigate will spend an extra few weeks on its current mission of helping to secure the delivery of humanitarian aid to Somalia.
HMCS Ville de Quebec was assigned Aug. 6 to escort civilian vessels carrying food from Kenya to Somalia through waters notorious for piracy. The Defence Department says the Halifax-based frigate's mission was originally set to end Sept. 27, but it has been extended to no later than Oct. 23.
The move will allow the UN-led aid program more time to secure a replacement naval escort.
So far, 22,000 tonnes of corn and soy meal - enough to feed more than 145,000 people for a year - has been delivered by ships escorted by Ville de Quebec.
NATO warships have been escorting the food shipments since 2007.
